QQQ vs SPTI
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs State Street SPDR Portfolio Intermediate Term Treasury ETF
Which is better, QQQ or SPTI?
QQQ has been ahead.
SPTI has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | QQQ | SPTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $483.5B | $10.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 3.91% |
| Holdings | 107 | 105 |
| YTD Return | +16.87%Best | -1.70% |
| 1Y Return | +22.98%Best | -1.18% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.98%Best | +3.48% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.39%Best | -0.45% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.9% | 3.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -53.5% | -16.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,586Best | $9,777 |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Fixed Income |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | - |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | May 23, 2007 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 30, 2007 to Sep 11, 2026 (19.3 years).
QQQ vs SPTI growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
QQQ vs SPTI Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and State Street SPDR Portfolio Intermediate Term Treasury ETF (SPTI) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year QQQ returned +22.98% while SPTI returned -1.18%. Year to date, QQQ is up 16.87% versus a loss of 1.70% for SPTI.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +24.98% per year against +3.48% for SPTI; over five years the annualized figures are +14.39% and -0.45% respectively. Across the full 19-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +15.33% annualized vs +1.01%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.9% compared with 3.8% for SPTI. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -53.5% for QQQ and -16.3% for SPTI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.00. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while SPTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $3 annually, a gap of $15 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 3.91% for SPTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 102 holdings in QQQ and 7 in SPTI, totalling 99.9% and 5.8% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 7 in SPTI, against full books of 107 and 105.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and SPTI you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, QQQ or SPTI?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while SPTI charges 0.03%. SPTI is the cheaper option, by $15 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or SPTI?
Over the past year QQQ returned +22.98% vs -1.18% for SPTI, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (19 years), QQQ annualized +15.33% vs +1.01% for SPTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or SPTI?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 18.9% annualized versus 3.8% for SPTI. Worst drawdown: QQQ -53.5% vs SPTI -16.3%.
Should I hold both QQQ and SPTI?
QQQ and SPTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.00, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or SPTI?
QQQ yields 0.44% while SPTI yields 3.91%, so SPTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPTI better than QQQ?
SPTI has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.